Reactor vessel for Unit 3 of Kudakulam Nuclear Power Plant in India to arrive in July 2018: Vladimir Angelov

The second unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu reached its full capacity of 1000 MW on December 5. It was the first time both units of the reactor were functioning at their full potential by generating an aggregating 2,000 MW of electricity.

The Unit 1 of the reactor was connected to the grid in October 2013 and the Unit 2 was synchronised with the grid in August 2016. A total of 6 units will come up at Kudankulam and construction work has begun on units 3 and 4 on June 29, 2017 with the ceremonial pouring of the first concrete. An Indo-Russian joint venture located in Tirunelveli district, the project with be owned by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL). The Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation officials said that the nuclear reactor vessels for Unit 3 & 4 are expected to be supplied to India in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Nuclear Asia talked to the Director of Projects in India of ASE Group of Companies, an engineering division of Rosatom, Vladimir Angelov about the next stage of construction of the project. Here is the complete interview –

What is the current status of manufacturing equipment for the second stage of the Kudankulam nuclear power project? Is it going according to the schedule?

At present, we are working on the procurement of equipment. The first batch of equipment for Unit 3 of the Kudankulam NPP was shipped in the first half of 2016.

Till date, 11 consignments of container shipments with a total of 745 shipped units have been made. Two ship consignments with a total volume of 22,000 cubic metre left the port of St. Petersburg this autumn. Now a third consignment with a volume of 15,000 cubic metre is being prepared for shipment to the Indian customer in December 2017.

When do you intend to supply nuclear reactor vessels for Units 3 and 4?

Reactor vessels will be supplied in accordance with the contractual obligations of the Russian side. For Unit 3 delivery is planned for July 2018 and for Unit 4 it will be in the first half of 2019.

Is the participation of Indian specialists in the construction of the second stage of Kudankulam expected to increase?

The participation of Indian specialists will increase in accordance with the increased zone of responsibility of the Indian side compared with their obligations related to Units 1 and 2. That applies to construction and assembly work as well as design and supply of equipment.